MSC Student Research Grants are part of the Marine Stewardship Council’s Ocean Stewardship Fund. They support students worldwide whose research helps a specific certified or improving fishery progress against, or maintain, the MSC Fisheries Standard.
The program did not open in 2025/26. MSC’s current funding page says applications are closed and asks prospective applicants to check back in September 2026.
Benefits & funding
- The current funding overview lists grants of up to GBP 10,000.
- The current overview lists a funding duration of up to two years.
- The 2024/25 guidance covered travel, accommodation and essential project equipment but excluded salary costs; MSC warns that future criteria may change.
Eligibility
- The current overview identifies postgraduate Master’s and PhD students working with MSC-engaged fisheries.
- The latest detailed guidance also admitted undergraduates who had secured a postgraduate place and would be in post when the project began, plus final-year integrated Master’s students.
- Applicants could be based anywhere in the world, with no published nationality or residency restriction.
- The research had to address environmental improvement, performance or best practice for a specific MSC-certified fishery, In-Transition to MSC fishery, stage 4 Pathway Project fishery or comprehensive fishery improvement project.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
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Education required
Bachelor Enrolled · Master Enrolled · PhD Enrolled
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Application process
- 1When the call reopens, contact the local MSC representative or the Ocean Stewardship Fund team to begin the process.
- 2Check the new cycle’s guidance before relying on the archived 2024/25 requirements.
- 3Under the latest detailed guidance, prepare the application materials, research proposal, declarations and support letters requested by MSC.
- 4Submit through the route and by the deadline stated for the reopened cycle.
Program timeline
Most recent published application deadline.
2 December 2024, 23:59 UTC
No application round.
2025/26
MSC advises prospective applicants to check back for the next call.
September 2026